Attendants plan 'simulated strike'

RALEIGH -- American Airlines flight attendants will hold a "simulated strike" starting at 11 a.m. today that isn't expected to effect flight operations.

The flight attendants have been embroiled in contract negotiations with the airline for more than 18 months.

A number of American Airlines flights will be designated "Red Flights" today, and flight attendants on those flights will wear a red disc under their union pin with the words "Got Guts." If there were a real strike, that flight would not be under operation, according to the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, the union representing 18,000 flight attendants.

Despite almost 100 bargaining sessions, American management has yet to even put a pay proposal on the table, the association said. Additional contract negotiations have been scheduled through January 2010.

The simulated strikes will also be held in Dallas, San Diego, Miami, Los Angeles, Washington, San Francisco, Chicago, St. Louis, Boston, West Palm Beach, Fla., Newark, N.J., and New York.

BASF promotes Jan Buberl

DURHAM -- BASF North American Crop Protection announced Tuesday that Jan Buberl has been appointed to head the company's Specialty Products Division.

Buberl has been with BASF for 13 years, most recently in the Crop Protection business as country manager for Spain and Portugal.

The Specialty Products Division comprises three businesses: Professional Pest Control Solutions, Professional Turf & Ornamentals, and Professional Vegetation Management.

BASF, based in Limburgerhof, Germany, manufactures chemicals, plastics and agricultural products, among others. The company has 15,000 employees in North America, including about 600 employees in Durham's Research Triangle Park.

Nuvaderm going to retail market

DURHAM -- Chesson Labs and N.C. Mutual Wholesale Drug, both based in Durham, announced Tuesday that they are partnering to distribute Chesson's liquid bandage, Nuvaderm, to the retail market.

"Chesson Labs has received a high level of interest from consumers to make our product available in retail outlets." said Chesson President and CEO Scott Neuville.

The antimicrobial bandage is used to cover minor cuts, scrapes, burns and other irritations to the skin and is being marketed to military and health care professionals.

The product was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in July.

Mutual Drug was formed as a cooperative by pharmacists and services wholesale distributors in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.

-- From staff reports